I was never a homebody. That didn't change now that I was in some alternate universe. While I was getting a sweater out of my suit case, I found myself dragging my feet some. What would this place look like in the light of day? Would it appear more or less alien? Would the vampires be better able to spot me as human? There was only one way to find out.

When I joined him downstairs Eric was hanging out on his front steps. I heard him laughing as he waved at some passerby. I wished I knew what he was laughing at. He looked so happy with the sun light falling directly on his face. He looked different.

"I haven't slept in days."

He had told me but I just thought…I don't know what I thought. That he may have been lying or adding dramatic flair perhaps? That wasn't the case. It was one thing to know that something was wrong with him. It was another thing to be able to note a physical change in a creature that should be unchanging.

Eric's eyes appeared more alert and his skin seemed brighter. With that smile on his face he was utterly dazzling. It was there because of me because he had been able to sleep. I smiled too as I joined him. He took my hand and we walked in the opposite direction from everyone else.

"This is my personal nest of sorts," he said.

There was nothing around but trees. They spouted tens of miles into the sky. I guess this was one thing we had in common. This spot was remote at least during this time of day. He would be alone—no, we would be alone. Maybe we could start working on his shield. He didn't seem interested in that. His eyes were looking back the way we had come.

"I can see everyone but not a single thought." He whispered as if awed. "It is the strangest most wonderful feeling."

"Being a vampire with a nest is pretty strange too."

He looked over his shoulder at me and despite me trying to remain straight faced, he saw I was making fun of him. He rolled his eyes at me but there was a smile on his face. Before I knew it he was in my personal space and the ground disappeared from under my feet. I was flying. It confused me for a second until I looked down. I wasn't flying, Eric was flying and he had taken me with him.

When I realized what was happening I screamed. I'd all but melded my body to Eric's in attempt to keep from falling. Eventually, I ran out of air and found that I was still ascending at a slow and steady pace. Eric in typical guy fashion was laughing at me. I was mad at that for sure but the higher up I got the more I could see.

By the time Eric had settled us on a thick branch the height didn't bother me. From this vantage point I could see the entire city. He stood behind me keeping an arm around my waist and the contact brought with it the same heat. I did my best to ignore it because it wasn't like I wanted to brace these heights without it.

I'd never known the touch of a man innocent as this was, it wreaked havoc on me. He touched me as if it was normal to hold me so close, to have my back against his chest, to rest his head on mine. He did it with so much ease that I knew that I was the only one that was affected.

"Look," he said pointing ahead.

My breath caught and I stopped worrying about things that were out of my control. The sight was truly breath taking. I wasn't well versed in the ways of the world but I knew when I was looking at something that was beautiful and one of a kind. From up high in this tree I saw all that and more. The sun, the sky, the sea and its waves crashing on the shore, it all threw me through a loop. I knew that I would never ever see anything that rivaled this sight.

In the distance I spotted a roofless arena that I could identify as the site of the wedding yesterday. It was in the middle of everything. There were other large buildings around it but other than that there were homes as far as the eye could see.

"That is where the wedding party was." I said. "What are the other tall buildings?"

There were three others and I was curious because everything else looked the same but different. Eric sat down on the branch and pulled me to sit between his legs. I listened to him talk and found that I really enjoyed the sound of his voice. It wasn't just his voice but the way tit betrayed emotion. When he spoke of Thalia the fondness was apparent. When he talked about the Wild as a whole, there was a notable undertone of pride.

I learned that the place where the reception had taken place was called the Atrium. It was a roofless arena that sat directly in the middle of everything like I saw but I learned it was also of equal distance. The circular structure of the Atrium stadium was used nightly for one things or another. Other times it was reserved for large scale occasions such as weddings, celebration of births and burial rights.

The Building closest to Atrium was the Raven's training center. Eric spent a great deal of time there, he told me. Doubly it served as a living complex for Wildlings that were older than juveniles but too old to want to live at home but couldn't yet live alone. It was also the platform for young adults before they ventured into the Outer Wild. I didn't know exactly what it meant but I was too riveted to ask questions.

"The domed building due North of the atrium was the Justice Hall. That is where you came in. It is where the ceremony was officiated. It is where the library, the historical exhibits and courts can be found. It is also where Draco can be found."

I smiled. The way Eric talked about it was as if he had been gone from home for ages. I could tell that none of this had lost its beauty, not the way he talked about it. Rather, I felt like he hadn't been able to see it clearly in so long. Now he could.

"What is that building with the glass roof?" I finally asked.

"It is the market." He answered. "It is the largest of the four outlying buildings even without the underground storage. Speaking of which, we should head that way so you can get what you need for the week."

"I don't need anything," I immediately replied.

"We should go to make sure." he said.

Unlike my trip up, Eric gave me warning as we descended. It was just as much fun. By fun I meant I hid my face in his chest. When we touched the ground again, I was equally caught between wanting to stay right where I was and pushing him away to avoid the sizzling temptation of his body pressing against mine. Instead of giving into either urge, I asked a question as we began walking toward the city proper.

"What is the last building for?" I asked. "Why isn't it as tall?"

The warmth of the day was comfortable. The more piercing heat waves coming off him and crashing onto me were not. Damn. All my life I would like to think I was a lady but it seemed that in his presence I was kind of a pervert. It would be so much easier to remember that I shouldn't be lusting after him.

"That is the Den." Eric answered. "It is about the same height as the rest but it is mostly underground. With the exception of Halflings, vampires are not born immune to sunlight. It takes several centuries to build up immunity. So the Den is the safest place for them during the day. On the main floor are the healers. Pythia is there most of the time. Your cat is there probably inducing all manner of bad behavior in the children."

"Oh," was all I said.

When we arrived at the market, it became clear what Eric meant when he said I could get things I needed for the week here. I was trying to think of a store I'd ever been in or heard of that was larger than the Wal-Mart in Monroe. I came up with nothing. It was no surprise. I'd been few places outside my small town and I hadn't done anything while there. When I walked in the doors, I felt down right country. It wasn't just a Wal-Mart, it was a super duper Wal-Mart if there was ever such a thing back home. Whatever dialogue I'd been having with Eric left my mind, there was just so much stuff.

"Holy—"

"Shit." Eric finished.

I guess I had been saying a lot of that today. My face flushed and I didn't dare look up at him. I'd promised to be more vigilant in guarding against him and his swoon worthy smile, his heart melting eyes and his deep husky laugh. Seeing he was my guide, it was impossible to avoid temptation but I didn't think I was doing too bad a job. I just couldn't look at him or touch him. It felt like I was fighting gravity. It had taken every ounce of decency, self-preservation and strength I had to get this far. My biggest ally was the scenery. There was just so much to see and this store was definitely one of them.

The first thing I noticed in the store was the four checkout lines. Only two had people manning them. How was that possible in a place this big? It stopped mattering as I saw my kryptonite— "Little Debbie snacks"

'Come to mama.'

Without thought, I moved towards them. I reserved them for cheat days while on diets or when I was having a bad day. My current situation qualified as bad. Surely, I could have just a bite? Plus I'd been walking all day. Eric had been leading us since we left his house. I didn't know I was pulling him until he dug his heels in. I came to an abrupt halt and he had to steady me to keep me from falling. We were by at least three dozen modern looking carriages.

"I'll take one," he said.

Maybe I nodded to agree, maybe I didn't. I couldn't be sure but really who cared? I saw cinnamon buns! I grabbed a box but didn't put them in the cart. It was all I wanted and I held it possessively to my chest.

"I'm good." I declared.

He looked at me funny; like he was sure he was missing something. "That cannot be what you live on?"

There was a response in the back of my mind but then I found him looking at me. I saw it just as potently as I felt it. It left a tingle over my skin, leaving my knees weak. I felt so naked, so exposed and helpless.

"No," I answered looking away. "I only have money for this."

Before we had left his house I'd grabbed my purse, more out of habit that anything else. I had a few dollars in it. Surely it would be enough to buy me this one comfort food that reminded me of home.

He plucked the box of sweets from my unsuspecting grasp and set them in the carriage and walked on, leaving me to follow behind. The last option was not smart. In a store this big, I could really get lost.

"Take whatever you like." Eric replied. "Your money is useless here."

Dammit. I was in some far off place. They would probably look at my paper money like nothing. I probably needed gold doubloons or something. It didn't look like there was a place where I could exchange my American currency for the local one. I wouldn't care about the foreign exchange rate, I just wanted enough to buy my treats.

"Maybe next time," I muttered reaching for the box of heavenly goodness. I was going to put it back on the shelf but Eric moved it out of reach.

"You misunderstand me I think. There is no form of currency in The Inner Wild." Eric told me.